family history — Blog | Tips, Strategies, & Resources for Nonfiction Authors

Writing a Family History with the Help of an Editor: Ryan’s Story

Writing a narrative family history book is more than organizing genealogical research. See how one author benefited from working with an editor.

Authors, Editing, WritingDaniel J. TortoraAugust 30, 2026book coaching, copy editing, developmental editing, editing, family history, grammar, line editing, manuscript evaluation, Chicago Manual of Style, parts of a book, writing

PhD-Level Tips for Writing a History Book That Isn’t Boring

How to write a narrative history that general readers will love.

Authors, History, WritingDaniel J. TortoraJune 15, 2026author tips, family history, biographies, developmental editing, copy editing, manuscript evaluation, book coaching, writing, self-editing

The Best Books on Writing a Biography

The top-rated books for biographers on the writing craft.

Authors, WritingDaniel J. TortoraApril 12, 2025first draft, writing, biographies, family history, nonfiction, book recommendations, author tips

The Best Books on Writing a Family History Book

Here are 8 book recommendations for family historians looking to write a great book.

Authors, WritingDaniel J. TortoraFebruary 9, 2023author tips, writing, family history, nonfiction

Tips for Writing a Family History Book

How to write family history: how to organize, make the narrative flow, and make it memorable—and thoughts on hiring an editor, indexing, and publishing.

Authors, Writing, HistoryDaniel J. TortoraSeptember 17, 2022author tips, parts of a book, writing, family history, nonfiction